Foldable models in their current form have been on the market for about five years. During this time, brands have finalized the form factor, eliminated many disadvantages of clamshells and expanded their range. Here are the main stereotypes about such gadgets that have lost their relevance.
Bulky and heavy
The first foldable devices were often criticized for their dimensions. After all, ordinary phones, despite the large diagonals of the screens, easily fit into the pocket due to the thin cases. The same could not be said for the same debut Galaxy Fold. When folded, it had a thickness of 15.5 mm, which is comparable to two smartphones. At the same time, the weight of early representatives of the class often exceeded 280 grams.
But the situation has changed. Now foldable devices are not far from traditional solutions in terms of size. The thinnest model in the segment, the Honor Magic V3, is barely thicker than the USB-C port (4.35 mm) when opened. And together, both halves are only 9.2 mm with a weight of 226 grams. The new Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is also quite compact (10.5mm and 257 grams), given that it offers an impressive 8-inch display.
Fragile
Another weakness that was attributed to clamshells was unreliability. But in this regard, significant progress is noticeable. Flagships like the Galaxy Z Fold6 now have IP48 protection. This not only allows you to immerse the gadget in water but also prevents dust from getting inside.
Durability has also been taken care of – many models can be bent over 200,000 times. And the OnePlus Open mechanism is designed for a million folds. Flexible glass is no longer as fragile as it used to be, and it can withstand falls better. Yes, it is possible to scratch the inner coating with a key or even a fingernail. But the hinges have become much stronger and do not break when sprinkled with dirt, which has been repeatedly demonstrated by blogger JerryRigEverything.
Too expensive
The price of such devices is the main repulsive factor for the mass consumer. Most of them are flagships that cost more than $1800. But even here the offer does not stand still. Brands with more affordable new products are gradually coming to the market. For example, the TECNO Phantom V Fold costs about a thousand dollars – half the price of popular analogues.
The situation is much better with the price tags of vertical folding beds. There are, for example, the Xiaomi Mix Flip ($825), the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra ($785) and the ZTE Nubia Flip 5G ($499). The most budget option today is the Blackview Hero 10 ($385).
